In this episode, Chrissie is sharing some favorites from 2025 so far.

FEATURED TITLES:

Kidlit

• The Teeny Weeny Unicorn's Great Big Wish by Shawn Harris
• Let's Be Bees by Shawn Harris
• Astro by Manuel Marsol
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
• Cassi and the House of Memories by Dean Stuart
• Audio: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Fudge series by Judy Blume

Grown-Up Reads

• My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
• Atavists by Lydia Millet
• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
• Audio: The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck
• Audio: Twist by Colum McCann

Cookbooks

• Justine Cooks by Justine Doiron
• Pizza Night by Alexandra Stafford
• What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers
• You Got This by Diane Morrissey

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this Forecast episode, Chrissie is sharing 10 kidlit books releasing in April 2025 that she is looking forward to.

FEATURED TITLES

Picture Books

• Earl and Worm: The Bad Idea by Greg Pizzoli (4/1)
• Oh, Carrots! by Mariajo Ilustrajo (4/1)
• Warm and Fuzzy by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Brian Won (4/15)
• Just One Wave by Travis Jonker (4/15)
• The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan (4/29)

Graphic Novels

• Avery and the Fairy Circle by Rowan Kingsbury (4/1)
• The Cartoonist's Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud (4/1)

Middle Grade

• Candle Island by Lauren Wolk (4/22)
• The Barking Puppy by Lori Lobenstine, illustrated by Il Sung Na (4/22)
• The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner (4/29)

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this Reading Raves episode, Chrissie shares 10 books for kids she read in March 2025 and recommends.

FEATURED TITLES

Short Chapter Books

• Unicornia: Learning to Fly by Ana Punset, illustrated by Diana Vicedo
• Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Lenny Wen
• Bulldozer's Big Rescue by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Troop Esme by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Marissa Valdez

Graphic Novels

• Team Unihorn and Woolly: Attack of the Krill by Alexis Frederick-Frost
• Oasis by Guojing
• Cassi and the House of Memories by Dean Stuart
• Wallace the Brave by Will Henry

Middle Grade

• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blue (audio)
• Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste (audio)

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this episode, Chrissie shares her take on how children's publishing feels right now vs. how it should be

To access the full essay including graphics of the Venn diagrams described in this episode, visit Chrissie Writes on Substack.

Also mentioned in the epsiode: David Sedaris discussing picture books and lessons

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this Library Life episode, Chrissie is sharing 4 ways that authors Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser supercharge their school visits:

1. Make a pre-game video
2. Consider the endpapers of the visit
3. Play interactive drawing games
4. Share real-life artifacts from the creative life

Check out Chrissie's Substack post all about author visits, featuring her best tips and tricks for planning and hosting.

Check out Ben Clanton's work on his website.

Check out Andy Musser's work on his website.

In the PNW and want to learn more about Chrissie's favorite indie bookstore? Learn more about Island Books on their website (located in Mercer Island, WA).

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this forecast episode, Chrissie is sharing 10 books for kids releasing in March 2025 that she is looking forward to.

FEATURED TITLES

Picture Books

• Papilio by Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser, and Corey Tabor (out 3/4)
• The Teeny Weeny Unicorn's Great Big Wish by Shawn Harris (out 3/4)
• Who Ate Steve by Kate Hindley, illustrated by Susannah Lloyed (out 3/11)
• Stalactite and Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer (out 3/18)
• Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend by Bob Shea (out 3/25)

Short Chapter Book

• My Mad Scientist Mom by Jarrett Lerner (out 3/4)

Graphic Novels

• Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (out 3/4)
• Dino Poet by Tom Angleberger (out 3/25)

Middle Grade

• Alice Eclair, Spy Extraordinaire: A Recipe for Trouble by Sarah Todd Taylor (out 3/18)
• Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea (out 3/18)

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this reading raves episode, Chrissie is sharing her favorite kidlit that she read during February 2025.

Featured Titles

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Alan, King of the Universe by Tom McLaughlin
• Casey's Cases: The Mysterious New Girl by Kay Healy
• How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang
• Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley
• Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia
• Operation Cover-Up by Tate Godwin

MIDDLE GRADE

• Scattergood by HM Bouwman

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this library life episode, Chrissie is sharing ideas from her library leaders program with fifth graders.

10 ways for library leaders to boost agency and book joy in the library:

1. Shelf sheriffs
2. Shelf talkers
3. Shelf shout-outs
4. Author chats
5. Window art
6. Kid librarian of the week
7. Quote of the week
8. Display curation
9. Author visit art
10. Shelf talker refresh (questionable books)

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• On the Chrissie Writes Substack: 
  • All about library leaders (application, sample slides, etc.)
  • The shelf talkers in Chrissie's library
  • Getting started with Kid Librarian of the Week
• Author Rachel Michelle Wilson's website

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this Deep Dive episode, Chrissie shares a week by week look at a weird books unit with 4th and 5th grade students in the library.

Resources Mentioned on the Show:

• "Let the Kids Get Weird" by Janet Manely on LitHub
• "Goodnight Moon" on Looking at Picture Books Substack by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen 
• Mac Barnett on NPR: "Are picture books undervalued? This new ambassador of children's literature thinks so"

Books Discussed on the Show:

• Tumblebaby by Adam Rex and Audrey Helen Weber
• The Cat Way by Sara Lundberg, translated by BJ Woodstein
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
• Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• I Want to Be a Vase by Julio Torres, illustrated by Julian Glander
• Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
• The Pineapple Princess by Sabina Hahn
• I Do Not Eat Children by Marcus Cutler
• The Teeny Weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris
• A Sleepless Night by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Joaquin Camp, translated by Jordan Landsman
• Pretty Ugly by David Sedaris, illustrated by Ian Falconer
• Pepper and Me by Beatrice Alemagna
• Tove and the Island with No Address by Lauren Soloy

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. 

Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

In this Forecast episode, Chrissie is sharing 10 books for kids releasing in February, 2025 that she is looking forward to.

FEATURED TITLES

Picture Book

• Caboose by Travis Jonker, illustrated by Ruth Chan (2/4)
• Let's Be Bees by Shawn Harris (2/11)
• Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan (2/25)
• Shark Girl by Kate Beaton (2/25)

Graphic Novels

• How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang (2/4)
• Saphie the One-Eyed Cat by Joho (2/4)
• Casey's Cases by Kay Healy (2/11)
• Crumble by Meredith McClaren, illustrated by Andrea Bell (2/25)

Middle Grade

• Jojo vs. Middle School by Joy McCullough and Veeda Bybee (2/11)
• It's All or Nothing Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arongo (2/11)

OTHER RESOURCES:

• Libro.fm Educator & Librarian Advanced Listening Copy (ALC) Program

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.

If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, roundups of kidlit books that have received starred reviews, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.